The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-10-01

and peaceful condition of the Repub-
licans in Cecil county troubles the
Cecil Democrat Any little personal
fling Mr.. Crookshanks can indulge at
the editor of The WING, intended
to excite factional feeling in the Repub-
lican ranks, is readily employed with the
hope of begetting unworthy suspicious
and personal jealousics. But the Gen
eral reckons without his host in his
fruitless endeayor to stir up strife by
such means in the Republican ranks.
As an amusement Mr.. Crookshanks
may indulge his little personal pleasan.
tries to his hearts content. Uncommon
with the mass OF Republican and nde-
pendent voters of the county, the edl-
tor of THE WIG has more important
work on hand, and that is the redemp-
ton of Cecil county from the personal
rule of political combinations, which
have too long used the patronage of
the county for personal uses and mdl-
vidual ends. The tax paying citizens
ofthe county demanda more cconom-
ical and business ike administration Of
their affairs. This must be secured
through the agency Of one OF the other
of the two existing political orSanlz1-
tons of the county. These orsanila-
tons have held their conventions and
placed before the qualified electors Of
the county two tickets which bear the
names of candidates for most important
local offices. 1t is not among the pos
sibilities of the times-in Cecil county
at least-to claim for any ticket its GER
tainty of election, merely because It
bears the stamp of party Regularity"
Parties are too evenly balanced for that.
The single ground upon which a sue
cessful appeal can be made to our vo,
tiers is, that Of superiority of personal
qualification in the candidates.
Now the method OF nominations has
much to do in securing this needed
qualification of nominees. Nomina-
tons are too frequently made upon the
ground of personal Availability" We
don't care how available man may be
in party sense, It doesn't follow that
he is personally qualified for the office
for which his political availability makes
him desirable man, for political lead
ers to select. Very many men have
been elected to office in Cecil county
who were ''aYallab!e" men, but who
proved very inefficient public officers.
In fact your easy going, popular fellow
and who measures up to the highest
standard Of personal Availability" as
Interpreted by politicians, generally
makes the least efficient public servant.
He has too many friends to oblge. He
generally looks more 10 his popularity
than to the public good. He IS too
easily influenced by the personal APP
peals of those whose good opinion he
desires, and IS very apt TO ctnbafrasS
himself by carelessiy made promises
and pledges. 'Available" men are a
pet class with political managers, be-
cause they are easily Influenced, and
can be relied upon to carry out schemes
which MAJ not be positively dishonest,
yet lead to reckless and eXtravagant
party administration. 1t is upon this
class of men that the Democratic party
has largely drawn for candidates in
Cecil county for many years past. a.
B. and e. have been elected to this
place and that, because they were
available" to ID. +. and +, who were
manipulating for the time the politics Of
the county, and \. 3. and {. were
"availablc" men, solely III the interest OF
a clique or faction. Review the history
of Democratic politics II Cecil county
for the past twenty years, marked by
the biennial recurrence Of 4 most en-
uttered factional contest for local SUI
premacy, and note how few men have
been chosen for important pubicofflccs
who were selected because they were
pre- eminently qualified for such posi-
tons. Indeed can il not be truthtully
asserted, that qualification was entirely
overlooked in almost every instance,
the managers and local leaders relying
upon their conceded majority III the
county, to secure the election OF men
in the interest of their clique or faction.
For twenty years past the local officers
have been chosen in Cecil county, by
two or three men resident in EIklOn.
The canvasses preceding these recurring
elections have been arranged in advance.
Trusted agents have been selected III
each of the districts Of the county, and
rival factions have w5ged fierce warfare
for success. Generally one has tri-
umphcd over the other. Sometimes
compromises have been made and
tickets have been put up with some CON
cessions 10 the opposing faction. y
year ago, a few young Democrats !oca-
ted at the county seat, had the sagacity
TO see, that this condition was growing
unpalatablc to the most intelligent SCH
timent of their party. Besides, they
were subordinate as leaders, and with
Quixodc determination to resist the
domination of one or two Well-estaD
lished local managers, they formed
combination offensive and defensive,
In county convention whichh1ppcucd
to lack 4 majority IN favor OF either Of
TIE two contesting leaders OF the Cecil
Democracy, they made a bold political
mCye, by reading out Of the party man